University rector to appear before Socialist Parliamentary Group amid mass SPAK arrests
The Rector of the Agricultural University of Tirana, Fatbardh Sallaku, will appear before the Socialist Party’s parliamentary group on Tuesday at 9:00 AM, following 24 security measures issued by SPAK against university officials and staff. Prime Minister Edi Rama, who announced the hearing on X, has openly criticized the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecution (SPAK) for what he described as “justice without trial”, arguing that the arrests concern administrative procedures from years ago rather than active criminal wrongdoing.
Why is this important: SPAK’s latest operation targets 24 individuals from the university, with five placed in pretrial detention, ten under house arrest, and nine ordered to report to authorities. The charges center on alleged corruption and abuse of office, but Rama’s reaction signals a growing political rift with SPAK. By welcoming the dean before the parliamentary group, the Prime Minister is taking an unprecedented step in publicly scrutinizing an ongoing investigation, further intensifying the already volatile political climate ahead of the May 11 elections.
Context: This latest move marks an escalation in tensions between SPAK and the government, with Rama publicly challenging the anti-corruption body’s methods. The case follows a series of high-profile investigations, including the arrest of Tirana’s Mayor Erion Veliaj, which have drawn criticism over the extensive use of pretrial detention. The timing of these arrests, just months before the elections, has fueled speculation about political motivations, with some accusing SPAK of overstepping its role and acting without sufficient evidence.
Rama’s call for a hearing before the Socialist parliamentary group is seen as a direct response to what he views as an overreach by SPAK. The move also coincides with a landmark ruling from the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in the Thoma Gëllçi case, where Albania was found guilty of violating due process rights by holding the former RTSH director in pretrial detention without sufficient legal justification—a ruling that could have major implications for SPAK’s practices.
What next: The parliamentary hearing with Rector Sallaku will be broadcast live from the Albanian Parliament, marking an unusual public intervention in an ongoing judicial process. While Rama insists the hearing is aimed at clarifying the circumstances of the university arrests, critics argue that it signals a direct political confrontation with SPAK. With SPAK under increasing scrutiny, this latest development suggests that the power struggle between the government and the justice system is reaching a boiling point, with potential ramifications for the justice reform and Albania’s institutional stability in the lead-up to the elections.
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